Page 91 of Calming the Storm

Please get to her in time. Crimson...I'm so sorry.

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~AKIHIRO~

"She's stable and is fast asleep. I'll make sure to call you if anything happens. Ya...I know. She'll get through this, Yoshimitsu. Crimson's strong. Ya. Alright. Give me the report later. Make sure everyone rests, especially Malachi. He didn't look good when he shifted back. Got it. I'm fine...I really am...if I think I can't handle it, you'll be the first to know. Stop crying, it doesn't suit you...I'm not crying, idiot. Get some rest."

I hung up the phone, taking a few shaky breathes as I allowed the tears to fall.

I looked to Crimson's sleeping figure that was wrapped in thick blankets to keep her warm.

Her left arm was above the blanket to give the nurses easy access to her IV site, just in case there was an emergency, but so far, she'd been stable.

The transfusion had given her enough boost to survive until we reached the palace’s private medical ward, but I realized right away that our blood was compatible. I could feel a bit of her within me, but it was rather difficult to put in words.

All I knew was I felt her pain, the fear inside her, even though she was unconscious. I wiped away my tears, standing up to walk to the balcony.

I opened the door, allowing the soft breeze to hit me as I took a deep breath before I closed the door behind me. I didn't want Crim to get cold, and I wanted to confront the person on the other half of the platform.

"You're either purposely making it easy for me to know when you’re stalking Crimson, or your ass needs to train more," I commented.

"People don't say hi anymore," James remarked.

I lifted my gaze to study him as he leaned on the rail of the balcony. He appeared disturbed, and from his tear-stained face and red eyes that showed he'd been crying, I was curious to know how much he knew.

"Hi, James. Why the fuck are you here?” I mumbled.

"How's Crim?" he asked.

"You should know. You knew where she was," I countered.

"I...was too slow. I...fuck, I didn't know...I didn't know Erica was after Crimson," he confessed.

I looked away, not needing his added sadness, but it was hard to ignore his sobs.

"You still love her," I whispered, realizing it like a flick of the light switch.

"...Yes."

"Then why did you do all the shit you did?! You love her, yet you made her cry over and over again. You broke her heart and walked away. You tried to kill her multiple times. Yet, here you are, actually crying that the woman you once had the responsibility to love and protect got fucking tortured till she could barely move before..." I trailed off, feeling my Kitsune at the surface ready to do something I'd probably regret.

"There's always two sides to a story, Akihiro," James whispered. He lifted his hand, showing his wrist.

I blinked, noticing the vivid mark on it.

"You're..." I trailed off, now understanding what was going on. "Why didn't you tell her?"

"I'm sworn not to. I was forced into this, Akihiro." He revealed.

"What about if the person is killed?"

"The person who I swore to is dead," he countered.

"Then it shouldn't be in effect."

"Well, I never have good luck. Something always backfires," James huffed, using his sleeve to wipe his tears.

I took a calming breath, realizing I needed to think clearly.

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